I do not recommend reading the Sherlock short story series one after the other. They all bled into one another in my mThe Sherlock series finishes up.

I do not recommend reading the Sherlock short story series one after the other. They all bled into one another in my mind. Thankfully, Return ended on a high note. Abbey Grange and Second Strain were both standouts in my opinion. Fun, clever, and not bogged down in explication. I will get to (re)reading the novels: Hound of the Baskervilles, Valley of Fear, His Last Bow, and Casebook. But I'm going to take a good long break.

I might be a little burned out on Sherlock Holmes. I started with the first 2 novelettes, then I went right into this one. They are good. But I'm moreI might be a little burned out on Sherlock Holmes. I started with the first 2 novelettes, then I went right into this one. They are good. But I'm more than familiar with Conan Doyle's formula. I'm going to wait a little before I pick up Memoirs....more

Sherlock and Watson meet the inimitable Mary Morstan setting off the 19th century love triangle. Also, Sherlock solves the case of a theft/murder.

---Sherlock and Watson meet the inimitable Mary Morstan setting off the 19th century love triangle. Also, Sherlock solves the case of a theft/murder.

-----------------SPOILERS?------------------------

I liked this story better than A Study In Scarlet because the explanation wasn't as jarring as the Mormon aside. Sherlock asked Lestrade at the beginning of the story for permission for a final interview with the killer. So, the Scooby Doo overview makes sense.

The appeal for me is when Sherlock explains how the observations he's made tell him the facts he's deduced about the case. That's probably most fans favorite part; it's utter confusion until he explains and then you feel somewhat stupid for not seeing it all along....more

Watson meet cutes Sherlock, notices Sherlock's bothersome drug habit, and then follows him as he solves the double murder of Enoch Drebber and JosephWatson meet cutes Sherlock, notices Sherlock's bothersome drug habit, and then follows him as he solves the double murder of Enoch Drebber and Joseph Strangerson.

SPOILERS AHEAD!-------------------------------------------

Mormonism! Who knew that the first Sherlock tale ever written had a good portion of its story set in the deserts of Utah? That was the most surprising thing to me; Sherlock Holmes is so quintessentially British. I was sad to leave Sherlock's salon, but still found Jefferson Hope's story enjoyable. Especially since Doyle wrote it while Mormonism - and Utah, for that matter - were relatively new things under the sun.

Sherlock is already a solid character in this story. His arrogance, his what-we'd-call-Autism-nowadays, and his intellect are on full display. I see why he and Watson started a whole new genre of writing.

This first murder is interesting because there is really no arch villain yet. Jefferson, Enoch, and Joseph are all the inadvertent victims of that promise Ferrier made to save and his and Lucy's life. Although, it could be argued that Mormonism isn't painted too kindly. I don't really blame Jefferson for his quest. Although he might need to work on letting things go.

Interesting that the Watson writes that he is quite the ladykiller in this story. Reknown on THREE different continents! That's a far cry from how he is painted in the movies and tv shows I've seen. Huh. Watson wasn't a nebbish at first.

A fun read concerning the true circumstances of a member of a Sherlock Holmes fan club's murder, Arthur Conan Doyle's true experiences working for ScoA fun read concerning the true circumstances of a member of a Sherlock Holmes fan club's murder, Arthur Conan Doyle's true experiences working for Scotland Yard after rising to fame as Sherlock's author, and the true fact that one of ACD's famed journal entries was missing for most of the 20th Century.

***********SPOILERS AHEAD************

I had a hard time getting into this novel, but once I was riding along with the author I found I liked the story. This book motivated me to go back and read more SHerlock Holmes stories. I think the only one I've read is Hound of the Baskervilles in high school. Also, my mother-in-law is a huge fan, so reading these stories will give us something else to talk about.

I don't have a lot to say about this book. When I'm reading mysteries, I tend to just accept the plots in front of me. I don't read too far into the writing style of the character's motivations because I know they are all leading up to an explanation at the end. Graham Moore's respect for ACD's writing is adoring. Even without reading Sherlock's stories anytime in the past 20 years, I picked up on the nods to the Sherlock style and literary devices. Fun. Perfect read for a 90 degree week....more

I like mysteries set in foreign countries because I get a good guessing game AND a travel book. Tana French always satisfies both needs. There were some holes in this one. And some character reactions I didn't quite buy. The brothers reminiscing right after a bloody fight and a confession? The detective bringing his daughter repeatedly into the realm of a suspected killer? The distant abusive father stepping in at the last minute to warn the narrator out of the blue?

I also guessed early on who the killer was. I'm not usually that astute (what mystery reader wants to know what happened in the first 5 chapters?), so I have to believe the hints were stronger in this book than in previous books I've read by the author.

Still very entertaining. Mammy Josie is a complex and interesting character I'd revisit. Imelda has a great backstory as well. The narrator is engaging most of the time. The machismo wears on me a little. When we're in a macho guy's head, is the manly front as strong? Tell me, because I don't know. I'm about as macho as a head of lettuce....more

Good mystery, one that focuses a bit more on the character's lives than on the mystery at hand, I thought. The red herrings throughout the plot were nGood mystery, one that focuses a bit more on the character's lives than on the mystery at hand, I thought. The red herrings throughout the plot were not as intentionally misleading as some others that I've read. I mean, in other mysteries the author intentionally leads the reader down the wrong dark alley to shake up what the reader *thinks* happened and in this novel the character's and their attachments lead themselves on a wild goose chase.

I have to say though that the cover of this book is not well-designed. It looks like a horror novel with the creepy vines obscuring the white glow behind it and this book is not creepy.

I'm glad the second novel seems to focus more on the Cassie character. She is, by far, more interesting to me and I'm thinking the lack of resolution to half of the plot in this book is likely to be flushed out in the next. I appreciated that in Stieg Larrson's Millenium series. I'm betting The Likeness will be a good read as well. ...more

You gotta love the main character, Siri, to get into this series. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to like the old coot. This book is fourth in the serieYou gotta love the main character, Siri, to get into this series. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to like the old coot. This book is fourth in the series. Not having read the second or the third, I can say the book stands on its own well. I may have missed some back story, but it wasn't like missing an episode of Lost and trying to figure out the plot again. I really like this series....more

Mikael Blomkvist is really an overrated character, isn't he? He and the picture of Stieg Larsson are so similar in description, that I think the authoMikael Blomkvist is really an overrated character, isn't he? He and the picture of Stieg Larsson are so similar in description, that I think the author used him to fulfill some fantasies. Sometimes the writing in this novel felt a little self indulgent to me.

SPOILERS AHOY

Also this book was all about bad guy come-uppance, whereas the last two were all about saving and kicking butt. I felt like Larsson wrote this third book simply to give his baddies the scene where they are dramatically arrested out of nowhere. I must say the Teleborian court scene was very gratifying for me. For most of the last 100 pages I was waiting for a twist that never came. It really did ramp up to exactly what I was expecting. The first two books twisted and turned through possible outcomes.

There was much more explication of Swedish government agencies circa 1985 than I'd like. Got a little dull there in chapter 5. Footnotes were probably necessary from a translation POV, but it honestly didn't add anything to my reading experience. I just plain didn't need all of that backstory. Or give me a few sentences of backstory and get on with it. Just tell me what's happening with Berger and Blomkvist and Lisbeth. There were also way too many characters introduced for no apparent reason - Susanne Linder & Nystrom come to mind first. All of those Swedish names were confusing to me. But none of this could stop me from reading how the Lisbeth Salander story ends.

I think most people read this series for Lisbeth. She is such a strong character. Seems like the reader shouldn't like her much, but you know there's a mistreated good person under there. I'm very glad to see growth in her this time around, even though I've previously enjoyed her bad-assery. I grew really tired of every man she meets say something about how tiny she is. Her stature was pretty well expressed in the first two books. We get it: she's tiny AND she kicks ass. Go Lisbeth!...more

Another mystery set in a foreign country. Ever since reading Steig Larsson's books, I'm fascinated by the way novelists describe how cases get solvedAnother mystery set in a foreign country. Ever since reading Steig Larsson's books, I'm fascinated by the way novelists describe how cases get solved in other countries. This one got better as it went along. Montalbano had his interesting quirks, but nothing like some other characters I've read. I'm not sure I'll stick with this series. The Cotterill novels set in Laos were much more interesting and better written in my opinion. I'll definitely keep going with that series. And maybe even get my mother-in-law to read them....more

Skip it. I do like my Scandinavian authors, but this one's play with time chronology is just confusing in translation. And it seems to be the hook ofSkip it. I do like my Scandinavian authors, but this one's play with time chronology is just confusing in translation. And it seems to be the hook of the book....more

One of the rare occurences when the second book in the series is better than the first one. If you like a well thought out murder series, pick these bOne of the rare occurences when the second book in the series is better than the first one. If you like a well thought out murder series, pick these books up!

Stieg Larsson handled the sequel naturally and believably. A coworker of mine said she didn't like this series because of an overly graphic scene in the first novel. She called it a slap in the face and completely unnecessary. I saw where she was coming from at the time, but now that I've finished reading the second book in the series, I understand why the author chose to grandstand that scene. The plot of the second book hinges on the repercussions of it.

I read another review of this series on Goodreads and someone said Stieg Larsson is an obvious feminist. I'm not so sure. The women in his novels are brutalized, maladjusted and living on the fringes of society. I think if he's a feminist, he has some issues to work out.

Anyone who knows me knows that violence in media is not my thing. I bet some of my friends would be surprised to learn that I read this series. To me the violence isn't gratuitous, if you pick up a murder mystery you expect some violence. The psychology behind the main character, Lisbeth, is deeply researched. Never have I been so charmed by someone on paper I would never want to meet in real life. That is why I read these novels and that is why Lisbeth Salander deserves to be the title character....more

Although I think it was a little easy for the author to give his narrator detective spiritual acumen, I still enjoyed this book. Like the No. 1 LadiesAlthough I think it was a little easy for the author to give his narrator detective spiritual acumen, I still enjoyed this book. Like the No. 1 Ladies books, I was drawn more to the characters than the plot line. Although, in this first book, the plot is much more mystery based in the NCIS sense than with Mma Ramotswe's caseload. A great rainy day read for those who like to learn about other cultures in a non-travel guide way. The Coroner's Lunch took me through urban and rural Laos, taught me a little about Laos's relationships with its neighbors and enlightened me on how Hmong tribes are treated by non-Hmong people. I will keep reading this series, for sure....more

I really liked this book. The only reason it didn't get a five star was because the translation got a little clunky. The title character is fascinatinI really liked this book. The only reason it didn't get a five star was because the translation got a little clunky. The title character is fascinating and I can't wait to see who they cast in her role. Is she without a syndrome or is the narrator's diagnosis correct?

I know that there are two more books coming in this series and I'm not sure where those are going to go. In this day of sequel set-ups in the last 3 minutes of a movie, I do feel like these characters have more to say but I can't guess if more secrets from the mystery unravel (because there are a lot of skeletons in that IKEA wardrobe) or if the author throws the anti-hero and unlikely heroine into another mystery.

I will say I am not traditionally a mystery reader. I'm not looking for a comfortable formula to settle my thoughts in and to be constantly reassured that the mystery will be solved and everything will be normal again tra-la. And this book is not comforting. It says a lot about the true nature of evil and its unbiding violence. I think it even rings more evil since its set in a small town consisting of mostly one family in a (to me, at least) benign country....more